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The Reviews for Dance with Me (1998)

Reviewed bySean Gallagher (seankgallagher@yahoo.com)Vote: 9/10/10The old dance films of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and Gene Kelly, mayhave been a technical marvel, but they also understood that dancing was aform of communication, of things left unsaid. This film fits right in withthat tradition, though of course it's using more modern dances, but I thinkAstaire would look at the chemistry between Chayanne and Williams whenthey're dancing, and approve. You can tell director Randa Haines is a fanof the dancing the way she lovingly photographs it, and gives all thedancers a chance to shine, especially during the long dance scene at theclub. She's also the first director who really gives Williams a chance tocut loose and show her talent. I don't know much about Chayanne, but he'sgood too.

So the plot isn't much. Who watches musicals just for the plot? Andactually, I liked how they handled certain aspects, like the dancecompetition and how Chayanne and Williams resolve their feelings for oneanother without even dancing together. The only real criticism I have isthe movie is a little too long, but that's only a quibble.

Reviewed bys_rutlandVote: 8/10/10This movie is very good eye candy. The music and the dancing pulls youinto the movie. Sometimes I just forgot that they were telling a storybecause almost in every scene there was movement, feeling and attentionin the dance choreography. It was a wonderful display of dancing andchoice in music. Some may not like the movie because it lacks a strongstoryline, but there are no new ideas. We all know what hidden behinddoor number 1, 2 and 3. Nonetheless, it is not that the movie doesn'tstray into the unknown; it is that the movie has attraction, heat, andpassion especially with the chemistry between Chayanne and Vanessa. Ieven like the music video that complements the movie. Chayanne has donea great job in his first English role and better yet he has the movesto back it up. Although Vanessa is heard in the movie speakingextremely poor Spanish, she did a wonderful job in the Spanish versionof "You are my home" it was great!

Reviewed bychirho33Vote: 8/10/10I saw this film by chance on cable TV. I was captivated from the startand stayed with it to the end (a major feat for a remote "triggerfinger" like me). I read the cable synopsis and thought, "Uh oh! Clichécity!" But, to my surprise, this film was not clichéd and the film waslike a breath of fresh air. The performances, for the most part, weretrue and honest. Chayenne (as Rafael, a Cuban émigré) is charming andacts well in his English-language film debut. Vanessa Williams isstunning, as always. And the music! Picante! The dance sequences areexcellent and Chayenne is an excellent dancer as is Vanessa. Chayennehas a soulful demeanor and with his eyes and subtle facial inflections,he made me feel his loneliness as a stranger in a new land. Many times,I thought the film would sink into gooey sentimentality, but again, tomy surprise, it rose above such obviousness. The best scene in the filmis when Chayenne is caught in a lawn sprinkler system that turns onunexpectedly. With great charm and wit, Chayenne does an excellenthomage to Gene Kelly, but with his own style and grace. A wonderful andfunny scene. I recommend this film if you want to hear some great Latinmusic, see some great dancing and be captivated by Chayenne and thebeautiful Vanessa Williams. By the way, Kris Kristofferson is very goodas the man who gives Rafael (Chayenne) a place to live upon arrivingfrom Cuba and who plays a key role in Rafael's adjustment to a new lifein America.

The Plot Summary for Dance with Me (1998)

Young Cuban Rafael just buried his mother, and comes to Houston to meet his father John for the first time. The difficult part is that John doesn't know he is Rafael's father. John runs a dance studio, and everyone prepares for the World Open Dance championship in Las Vegas. It soon becomes clear Rafael is a very good dancer, and Ruby is the biggest hope for the studio at the championship.